| The statue of Christ the Redeemer who with its | | | | of the city's big attractions. |
| open arms stands guard over the green | | | | Besides the statue of Christ and the Sugar Loaf, |
| mountains, white beaches and millions of people of | | | | nothing is as synonymous with Rio as the |
| Rio could not have been placed in a better place. | | | | Copacabana Beach. And the beach is veritable |
| With a divine view of the city, it is easy for the | | | | firework of activity: beautiful women in string |
| traveler to feel blessed in this fun, decadent, | | | | bikinis and well trained men in tight Speedos, |
| beautiful, rich, poor, cultural and artistic metropolis. | | | | people of all ages who play, swim, sleep, read, |
| The city has it all, from the carefree rich, who | | | | talk, flirt and eat. And all of this entertainment is |
| spends the day on Copacabana beach and party | | | | completely free. Copacabana is a place where it is |
| in the vibrant nightlife, to the homeless street | | | | easy to forget time, and days fly by. |
| children and the poor multitudes in the slum. | | | | The Pistachio green neo-gothic palace Ilha Fiscal, |
| Rio is a dream of a city, where people return | | | | which originally was constructed to keep an eye |
| again and again - and some chose to stay. But for | | | | on the harbor activities, is located on a very small |
| others the dream has become a nightmare - the | | | | island in the Guanabara Bay and looks more a |
| part of the population who are hopelessly | | | | fairy tale castle than a customs building. The |
| shipwrecked in poverty. Rio is rich and poor. It is | | | | building is surrounded by tall palms, and every |
| past and present. It is fun and sad. | | | | Thursday to Sunday there are several daily |
| As a traveler the statue of Christ is a natural | | | | guided tours from the harbor. |
| starting point. At the peak of the Corcovado | | | | The Catedral Metropolitana is a fez-like |
| Mountain, 2,329 feet (710 m) above sea level, the | | | | construction, and is well worth a visit. One of the |
| statue rises a further 125 feet (38 m). It is seen | | | | trademarks of this modern church are its four |
| as a symbol of the faith and kindness of the | | | | almost 200 feet (60 m) high glass windows in |
| city's inhabitants, the so-called Cariocas. For most | | | | bright colors. During the day the light inside the |
| people however, it will probably be the amazing | | | | church changes along with the strength of the sun |
| view of the city, the lush surrounding hills and the | | | | light, creating at times a mystical atmosphere. |
| shimmering Atlantic Ocean that will make the | | | | Soccer fans do not want to miss a game at the |
| greatest impression on a visit to mountain top. | | | | legendary Maracana Stadium, which was built for |
| For those wanting more fantastic views, a trip on | | | | the World Cup of 1950 (where Brazil lost the final |
| the cable cars to Pao de Acucar, the Sugar Loaf | | | | to neighboring Uruguay, a defeat which still stings |
| Mountain, is another must. The trip takes you | | | | today), which houses 114,000 spectators. |
| 1,300 feet (396 m) above Rio, and remains one | | | | |